Sinclair Broadcasting forced local anchors to read identical pro-Trump propaganda scripts

When you turn on your local news broadcast in America, you generally expect to hear reporting tailored to your community. What you may not realize is that a single corporation controls nearly 200 television stations across the country—and in 2018, evidence emerged showing it was using that power to dictate what anchors said on air.

Sinclair Broadcast Group is the largest television station owner in the United States. In March 2018, video clips surfaced showing anchors from dozens of Sinclair-owned stations reading nearly identical scripts. The segments attacked what they called "fake news" and warned viewers about "biased stories from other media outlets." Many of these scripts contained explicitly pro-Trump messaging and framing consistent with the president's rhetoric against mainstream media.

The clips were compiled by media critics and shared widely online, creating immediate pressure on the company. Local news anchors, often seen as trusted figures in their communities, suddenly appeared to be reading propaganda rather than reporting independently. The synchronized nature of the messaging made clear this wasn't coincidental—someone at corporate headquarters had written these scripts and required stations to air them.

Sinclair initially defended the practice as routine promotional content designed to protect local journalism's credibility. The company argued it was simply responding to legitimate concerns about media bias and that the scripts were optional guidance rather than mandatory directives. Some company executives suggested the controversy was being overblown by those hostile to conservative viewpoints.

However, internal documents and testimony from station managers told a different story. Former employees revealed that local anchors faced significant pressure to read the segments exactly as written. Those who refused or modified the scripts reportedly faced disciplinary action or termination threats. Email correspondence between corporate leadership and station managers confirmed these were not suggestions—they were requirements enforced through the company's performance evaluation system.